PRINTER'S NO. 2271
No. 1544 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY CONTI, TOMLINSON, THOMPSON, MOWERY, LEMMOND,
COSTA, HUGHES, KITCHEN, MUSTO, O'PAKE AND WOZNIAK,
OCTOBER 1, 2002
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, OCTOBER 1, 2002
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for health
6 services.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1402 of the act of March 10, 1949
10 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
11 amended or added July 15, 1957 (P.L.937, No.404), August 9, 1963
12 (P.L.642, No.340) and December 7, 1965 (P.L.1041, No.390), is
13 amended to read:
14 Section 1402. Health Services.--(a) Each child of school
15 age shall be given by methods established by the Advisory Health
16 Board, (1) a vision test by a school nurse, medical technician
17 or teacher, (2) a hearing test by a school nurse or medical
18 technician, (3) a measurement of height and weight by a school
19 nurse or teacher, (4) tests for tuberculosis under medical
1 supervision, and (5) such other tests as the Advisory Health
2 Board may deem advisable to protect the health of the child.
3 Vision tests shall be given at least annually and other tests at
4 intervals established by the Advisory Health Board.
5 (a.1) Every child of school age shall be provided with
6 school nurse services: Provided, however, That the number of
7 pupils under the care of each school nurse shall not exceed one
8 thousand five hundred (1,500).
9 (b) For each child of school age, a comprehensive health
10 record shall be maintained by the school district or joint
11 school board, which shall include the results of the tests,
12 measurements and regularly scheduled examinations and special
13 examinations herein specified.
14 (c) Medical questionnaires, suitable for diagnostic
15 purposes, furnished by the Secretary of Health and completed by
16 the child or by the child's parent or guardian, at such times as
17 the Secretary of Health may direct, shall become a part of the
18 child's health record.
19 (d) All teachers shall report to the school nurse or school
20 physician any unusual behavior, changes in physical appearance,
21 changes in attendance habits and changes in scholastic
22 achievement, which may indicate impairment of a child's health.
23 The nurse or school physician or school dentist may, upon
24 referral by the teacher or on his own initiative, advise a
25 child's parent or guardian of the apparent need for a special
26 medical or dental examination. If a parent or guardian fails to
27 report the results to the nurse or school physician, the nurse
28 or school physician shall arrange a special medical examination
29 for the child.
30 (e) The school physicians of each district or joint board
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1 shall make a medical examination and a comprehensive appraisal
2 of the health of every child of school age, (1) upon original
3 entry into school in the Commonwealth, (2) while in [sixth]
4 fourth grade, (3) while in eighth grade, (4) while in eleventh
5 grade, and [(4)] (5) prior to the issuance of a farm or domestic
6 service permit unless the child has been given a scheduled or
7 special medical examination within the preceding four months.
8 The health record of the child shall include the following: name
9 and address of the child; name and address of the child's family
10 physician; general health information; a family health history;
11 and specific information relating to a cardiovascular,
12 abdominal, neurological, ear-nose-throat, dental and orthopedic
13 physical examination and any abnormalities or other health
14 issues. The health record of the child shall be made available
15 to the school physician at the time of the regularly scheduled
16 health appraisals and shall be attached to any form required to
17 allow a child to participate in sports.
18 (f) The Secretary of Health, upon petition of the school
19 board or joint school board or on his own initiative with the
20 concurrence of the school board or joint school board, may
21 modify for individual school districts the school health
22 services program specified in this section. The program as
23 modified shall conform to approved medical or dental practices
24 and shall permit valid statistical appraisals of the various
25 components of the program.
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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